Dublin 2-13
Galway 2-7
Fintan O’Toole reports from Tullamore
O’CONNOR PARK AGAIN proved a happy hunting ground for a Dublin U21 football team this evening as they claimed the last EirGrid All-Ireland U21 football title in convincing fashion.
A blistering third quarter period by Dessie Farrell’s charges when they hit 1-4 without reply, proved crucial in enabling them to pull clear of Galway in this final.
The success marked Dublin’s third title win in six years in this grade, with all three arriving at the Tullamore venue.
Con O’Callaghan pounced for the vital first goal of the game for the winners in the 35th minute, palming the ball to the net after a flowing Dublin team move. It was Aaron Byrne who drilled home the second which sealed Dublin’s success in the 56th minute.
Galway rallied impressively in the final quarter with Cillian McDaid in the 49th minute and substitute Colm Brennan late in injury-time, both raising green flags.
McDaid was excellent but it was the outstanding defender Séan Andy Ó Ceallaigh who was Galway’s best player on the day. That duo propelled Galway forward late on and when Dylan Molloy lashed over a point, they had trimmed the deficit to four points – 1-10 to 1-6 – with ten minutes left on the clock.
Shortly after McDaid nearly placed Ruairí Greene for a second goal that would have ignited Galway’s challenge but the ball cannoned off the post. Substitute Antaine Ó Laoi skewed a free wide moments later and with Byrne finishing clincially at the other end, Galway’s hopes of a memorable comeback were dashed.
Gerry Fahy’s side, who trailed 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval, were left to rue their slow start.
Substitute Darren Gavin and Brian Howard produced superb performances for Dublin, while Glenn O’Reilly, Colm Basquel and Dan O’Brien all chipped in with significant scores from play.
They ran out deserving victors by the finish of a game watched by 7,557 spectators.
Scorers for Dublin: Con O’Callaghan 1-3 (0-2f, 0-1 pen), Aaron Byrne 1-0, Glenn O’Reilly 0-3, Colm Basquel, Dan O’Brien 0-2 each, Brian Howard, Stephen Smith 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Cillian McDaid 1-1, Colm Brennan 1-0, Kieran Molloy, Peter Cooke (0-1f), Michael Daly, Paul Mannion, Eoin Finnerty, Colin Brady 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. Darren Byrne (Raheny)
6. Seán McMahon (Raheny)
5. Declan Monaghan (Clontarf)
3. Cillian O’Shea (Kilmacud Crokes)
4. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)
7. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis)
8. Andy Foley (Clontarf)
9. Brian Howard (Raheny)
15. Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes)
12. Glenn O’Reilly (Na Fianna)
11. Aaron Byrne (Na Fianna)
10. Tom Fox (Kilmacud Crokes)
13. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
14. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
Subs
24. Darren Gavin (Lucan Sarsfields) for Foley (inj) (12)
19. Darragh Spillane (Cuala) for Fox (39)
22. Chris Sallier (Thomas Davis) for O’Reilly (46)
21. Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes) for McMahon (59)
17. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams) for Basquel (60)
18. Stephen Smith (Skerries Harps) for Byrne (62)
Galway
1. Ronan Ó Beoláin (Mícheál Breathnach)
2. Liam Kelly (An Spidéal)
3. Sean Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Leitir Mor)
4. Ruairi Greene (Killannin)
7. Cillian McDaid (Monivea-Abbey)
6. Dylan McHugh (Corofin)
5. Kieran Molloy (Corofin)
8. Peter Cooke (Moycullen)
9. Cein D’Arcy (Caherlistrane)
12. Paul Mannion (Kilconly)
11. Michael Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
10. Sean Kelly (Moycullen)
13. Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
14. Eoin Finnerty (Mountbellew-Moylough)
15. Dessie Conneely (Moycullen)
Subs
20. Colin Brady (Corofin) for Robert Finnerty (half-time)
18. Colm Brennan (Aran Islands) for D’Arcy (36)
22. Michael Boyle (Killererin) for Conneely (39)
23. Eric Lee (Oughterard) for Kelly (44)
21. Antaine Ó Laoi (An Spidéal) for Mannion (54)
17. Pádraic Ó Curraoin (An Spidéal) for Molloy (59)
Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down)
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Great performance alright. What a turn around from keats. Great to see him playing with a smile again. Onwards and upwards for munster.
Apparently the birth of his kid changed how he views rugby. He’s in a completely different head space compared to two years ago and it shows on the pitch. Delighted for the guy.
@borgig: could be not being booed by his own fans too
Great to see him come on so strong. Our great leader Joe always kept faith in him when others didn’t. He’s going to get a fair bit of 6 nations rugby and maybe a World Cup too.
In fairness to Keatley, he showed some cojones to come back from the early set backs, even though he’s right about the pass from Murray! Kick to touch seemed to bring the confidence back after that. Don’t think he was as good as everyone seems to think he was but the first choice at 10 in Munster for sure!
Good to see him with a smile on his face on the pitch too!
Good man Keatley you Legend!!!
I’m delighted for Keatley. I think he deserves the praise for his recent good form & hope he keeps it up. If he can keep improving maybe the naysayers will fall away. Hopefully he has another gear. Good luck to him.